How life has changed in Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight's population increased by about 5,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Isle of Wight increased by 4.2%, from almost 133,000 to 138,000.

The addition of about 5,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Isle of Wight was home to, on average, 2.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Isle of Wight

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Isle of Wight increased by two years, from 44 to 46 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 5,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 15.0% of people in Isle of Wight are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Isle of Wight by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Isle of Wight

The percentage of Isle of Wight residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.2% to 88.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.6%, while the percentage of Isle of Wight residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.2% to 7.4%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 90.8% in 2001 to 90.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Isle of Wight

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Isle of Wight was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.5 points.

In 2011, 32.3% of respondents in Isle of Wight gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 18.8% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Isle of Wight, 65.9% said they were Christian, compared with 80.0% in 2001. About 0.7% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, compared with 0.5% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Muslim increased from 0.3% to 0.4%.

In Isle of Wight, 8.2% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.9% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in Isle of Wight increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Isle of Wight by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Isle of Wight, but at a slower rate than in Portsmouth (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Isle of Wight).

In Isle of Wight, the proportion of private renting increased from 11.3% in 2001 to 17.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Portsmouth increased from 14.7% to 24.7%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Isle of Wight increased from 10.0% to 10.7%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76.3% to 70.1%.

Private renting in Isle of Wight increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Isle of Wight, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Isle of Wight

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Portsmouth.

In Isle of Wight, the proportion of single people increased from 24.1% in 2001 to 28.3% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Portsmouth increased from 36.4% to 43.5%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

The proportion of married people in Isle of Wight fell from 52.6% to 48.5%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 12.4% to 14.1%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Isle of Wight residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.7% to 6.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77.3%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65.1% in 2001. The percentage of Isle of Wight residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25.2% to 16.2%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Isle of Wight decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Isle of Wight, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Isle of Wight, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.7%) households had only one person, compared with 31.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Isle of Wight which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 33.9% to 30.8%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Isle of Wight

In 2011, 97.3% of Isle of Wight residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.7% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.2% of people in Isle of Wight said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.5% in 2001. About 1.1% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups decreased from 0.2% to 0.2%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Isle of Wight decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Isle of Wight by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Isle of Wight working less than 16 hours increased from 2.3% to 3.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 10.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Isle of Wight increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Isle of Wight, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Isle of Wight with children decreased from 26.0% to 25.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (66.7%) households had no children, compared with 66.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in Isle of Wight with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.9% to 8.3%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.2%). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Isle of Wight residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Isle of Wight remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Isle of Wight by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Employment in Isle of Wight

The percentage of employed people changed very little in this area, while the proportion fell in nearby Portsmouth.

In Isle of Wight, the proportion of employed people stayed close to 46.2% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Portsmouth decreased from 53.8% to 51.0%.

Across the South East, the share of employed people decreased from 55.4% to 54.2%.

The rate of unemployment in Isle of Wight remained close to 4.4%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 10.2% to 11.6%.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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